Corbin advances to district finals

A three run homer by Travis Smith and a 12 strikeout performance by Trace Vorbeck proved to be the difference as Corbin defeated Pulaski County and advanced to the championship of the District Four Little League Tournament in Hazard.
Pulaski and South London were scheduled to battle for the spot against Corbin in today’s championship game in the double-elimination tournament. Corbin is the only team without a loss.
Corbin scored first in the win as Eric Jones crossed the plate on a error at the bat of Travis Smith. However, Pulaski County came right back in the bottom of the second and scored once to tie the game despite the three strike-out inning by Vorbeck.
Nick Vaught opened the bottom of the inning with a single followed by a strikeout to Jonathan Harville. Casey Gross then unloaded a run-scoring double to tie the game. Vorbeck followed with strikeouts to Cody Patton and Joe Keeney.
Corbin took the lead for good in the top of the second when Vorbeck led off with a single past the shortstop. Brady Foley answered with a base hit but Vorbeck was shot down going to third. Foley took second on the play then scored on a throwing error.
Vorbeck continued to power the ball past the Pulaski County hitters as he struck out seven of the next nine batters. None would reach base.
In the top of the sixth with a one-run lead Corbin rallied with two outs. Derek Barton hit a single up the middle and Coppock went into run.
Dalton Tarry worked Vaught for a walk followed by Travis Smith. Smith was nearly hit on the first pitch and tucked to get out of the way but the next Vaught pitch was right down the middle. To the liking of Smith who drilled the ball over the rightfield fence for a three-run homer and 5-1 lead. “I knew it was gone when I hit the ball,” said Smith, who had a home run in last week’s Area Tournament at North London.
Vinny Hoover followed with a base hit to centerfield but would run into a tag on Vorbeck’s hit to the second base side of the field.
Corbin was smelling victory but coach Kevin Tarry warned his team not to overlook the Pulaski County boys. “It’s not over yet,” he told them. “They are going to try and rally against us.”
Tarry was right on target as Caleb Duncan drew a walk from Vorbeck. Leadoff batter Matt Brown then took a pitch to the second base side of the field for a double as Duncan scored. Brown went to third on the play to the plate. He then scored on a sacrifice to Jones at short as Pulaski County pulled within two runs, 5-3.
Vorbeck, who had averaged two strike outs per inning, got Wilson to ground out to Derek Barton at third and Jones made a nice stab at short to end the game.
Corbin will await the winner of Pulaski County-South London with the championship scheduled for tonight.

Corbin 011 003- 5 6 1
Pulaski Co. 010 002- 3 3 2
Vorbeck and Smith. Vaught and Wilson. WP-Vorbeck, LP-Vaught. 2B-Gross (PC), Brown (PC). HR-Smith (C).